Page 109 of West Bound

Cheers became hoots and hollers from the guys, but that didn’t stop us. I had interviews to do, but they were the last thing on my mind. Cameras caught our every move and all I could think was that every woman who saw this would know Phoenix West was mine.

When we finally pulled apart, we smiled stupidly at one another.

“I love you Vivian Kelley,” he yelled over the chaos.

“I love you too, Phoenix West.”

“Marry me!”

The smile that had been plastered on my face fell and the jubilant celebration around us felt like it dulled to a whisper.

“I’m sorry. What did you say?”

He gave me his classic cocky Phoenix West grin and repeated, “marry me.”

I shook my head and looked at him through slanted eyes. “That’s a horrible proposal. You don’t even have a ring!”

“Peaches,” he began and turned me in a slow circle. “We’re standing in the middle of the biggest diamond there is. What more could you want?”

I smacked his chest and rolled my eyes. “How about a proper proposal with a ring when you’re thinking clearly and not high off the win. We’ve been back together for two minutes. Quit messing around.”

“You think I’m joking, but I’m not. But if a proper proposal is what you want, then that’s what my girl will get.” He kissed my nose then set me on my feet with a smile and a wink.

That night, we tumbled into our hotel room after a long night of celebrating when we were interrupted by both of our phones ringing. We figured it was our friends calling to congratulate Phoenix and that we’d call them back come morning. Well, afternoon since it was three a.m. But when they both rang again, we stopped–begrudgingly–and answered.

And thank God we did because the news we got sent us into another torrent of extreme high.

Vaughan was awake from his coma. That’s all that anyone knew, but he was responding and that was a good sign.

I cried, Phoenix woohooed, and when we hung up, we hugged and kissed for a whole new reason.

Two weeks later we were standing under a stream of confetti while fireworks exploded at Wrangler Stadium, celebrating the first World Series win in franchise history. Phoenix and I kissed and hugged and then I shooed him away to celebrate with his teammates.

The stage was erected at lightning speed as t-shirts and hats were handed out to every player and every coach. I stood watching when Rami walked up to me, shirt and hat in hand and said, “this is yours, Red. You’re a part of this team, too. And Vivian…I’m sorry. I let Manny get in my head and I…I just feel awful. Nix is a great guy and you deserve the best.”

I took the shirt and hat from him, still in stunned silence, and placed the hat on my head. When I finally found the words, I told him, “thank you, Rami. And all is forgiven and forgotten. It’s a little something Phoenix taught me and I think he’d agree.”

I held my arms open for a hug, but Rami shook his head and held out his hand. “You may think Nix has forgiven me, but I’m not about to risk getting my eyes shoved up my ass if I hug you. Let’s keep it to hand shakes.”

I laughed and shook his hand, then he ran off when someone called his name.

The rest of the team found their way onto the stage while camera crews got into place. I ran over to grab my mic and make my way up for questions and the presentation of the trophies. I had a feeling that Phoenix was going to get the MVP award, and I wanted the best shot possible.

I took my place beside the podium that held the series and MVP trophies and waited with my questions ready when it cut to me. I asked the usual “how does it feel” and “tell me what that moment was like for you”. When it came to presenting the MVP trophy, my heart dropped into my stomach and my legs began to tremble.

“And now, the award for the Most Valuable Player for twenty-twenty three…” Luca bellowed into the microphone. “Phoenix West!”

The crowd went wild once more and this time, I couldn’t hold back the tears. Phoenix held that trophy high and everyone on that stage applauded him. Cameras flashed as thousands of pictures were taken of him and his trophy.

It was finally my turn to talk to him and for some reason, I was more nervous than the first time.

“Congratulations, Phoenix. You have had an amazing career and an amazing journey to get to this point from battling back after a gruesome injury, to a trade late in the season. With all of that, how sweet is this moment?”

I held my mic out to him, my hand shaking and remnants of tears in the corners of my eyes.

He looked at me and said, “After my injury, I never really saw myself standing here. It wasn’t until I was traded to the greatest team on earth,” he shouted and fans erupted. “That I finally felt like it was my time. But what would make this moment all the better is if…”

Phoenix reached into the back pocket of his pants and knelt before me, in front of thousands of people still in the stadium, and millions watching at home.

---